Sources: Pelicans Want to Keep Anthony Davis Past Trade Deadline

The New Orleans Pelicans are engaging with the Los Angeles Lakers in talks on a trade for All-NBA star Anthony Davis, but president Magic Johnson must still overcome a significant desire within the Pelicans organization to let Thursday’s deadline expire with Davis remaining on the roster, league sources told ESPN.

Set against Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET trade deadline, this process has transformed into a high-stakes game of leverages, postures and bluffs among several organizations and Davis’ agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports. So far, the Lakers have felt that conversations with New Orleans have been one-sided, and they are growing increasingly pessimistic about the Pelicans’ willingness to do a deal with them, sources with knowledge of the discussions told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.